October 16th, 2008 
krishna Sunga Dynasty After the downfall of Maurya dynasty India was ruled by numerous regional kingdoms and dynasties for almost five centuries. Last Maurya king Brihadratha was murdered by the Pusyamitra who was the commander-in- chief of the Brihadratha’s army. Pusyamitra established the Sunga Dynasty in 185 BC. Patliputra was their capital. They ruled very less territory as compared to Ashoka’s territory. Most of the Northern areas had been won by the Indo-Greeks and Southern territories had passed into the hands of Satavahnas. Sunga Dynasty ruled India around 185 to 73BC and then it was overthrown by Kanva Dynasty. Sunga rulers especially Pusyamitra fought many battles with his neighboring states and also faced some foreign invasions. Indo-Greeks had won the northern parts that included Punjab also. On the other hand ruler of Kalinga, Karavela had won the modern Orissa from him. In some inscriptions it has been mentioned that Kalinga King had defeated Pusyamitra and forced him to bow at his feet.
Sunga And Kanva Rulers It is believed that Pusyamitra was very hostile towards Buddhism and had done a lot to destroy the Buddhist religion. According to Buddhist tradition he was the biggest enemy of Buddhists who had destroyed many Stupas and Viharas and had killed monks. The word ‘mitra’ indicates that he may have been an Iranian and worshiper of Sun. It is said that he had burnt down multitude of monasteries which is considered to be a violent Brahamincal reaction against Buddhism. After Pusyamitra’s death, his son Agnimitra became the second Sunga ruler. He could rule only for eight years and was succeeded by his son in 141 BC. A very little has been mentioned in history that who became the next Sunga king. According to Puranas Vasujyeshtha or Sujyeshtha succeeded Agnimitra around 141BC. Some historians have mentioned that he had successfully repulsed the Indo-Greek invasions. It is not known that who was the next Sunga ruler but it is said that ten Sunga rulers had ruled Patliputra. The last Sunga ruler had been killed by his Brahman minister Vasudev in 71BC. So his dynasty is called Kanva. It was a short-lived dynasty of four kings that collectively could rule only for forty five years. They were overthrown by an Andhara King named Satavahanas.
Satavahna Rulers Satavahanas dynasty ruled central and southern India. Names of thirty kings have been mentioned who ruled almost for five centuries from 230BC to onwards. Their rule existed when Ashoka was the emperor of India. From this point we can assume that their territory was a part of his Kingdom. The first Satavahanas King was Simuka who probably ruled around the first century and had destroyed the Kanvas. He was succeeded by Krishna and Satayakarni. During the first century CE India again faced foreign invasions. Satavahanas had lost a lot of their territory to Nahapana. The next Satavahana ruler was Gautamiputra Satakarni who defeated Nahapana and won most of the lost dominions of the Satavahanas. He was the ruled of his kingdom around 78 to 106 CE. He was succeeded by his son Vashishtiputra Pulumayi from 106 to 130 AC. After it Rudradaman 1 of the Western Satraps Dynasty had defeated Satavahanas and spared only Vashishtiputra Satakamyi as he was his son-in-law. Five Satavahana kings succeeded him but their power continued to decline. Around the mid 200 CE they had been completely extinguished and their land had been divided by several dynasties among themselves.
Satavahanas were the first Indian rulers who had their own coins with ruler’s portraits on them. Some of Satavahana kings were Hindus while some believed in Buddhism. They had also built some stupas. During their rule art had improved a lot.
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